Freelance Reception Content Creator - Brief 

Start Date: November 2026

Initial Duration: end of January 2027

Time commitment: Approximately 22.5 hours a week 

Rate: £46.67 per hour

Location: Remote UK

Oak National Academy is looking to engage experienced and inspiring Reception teachers/education specialists on a self-employed, freelance basis to support the development of high-quality curriculum resources for Reception across a range of learning areas, including Literacy, Mathematics, PE (as part of Physical Development), Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design.

The focus of the engagement will be the creation and/or review of session guides and resources across a range of learning areas, drawing on strong knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and effective Reception pedagogy.

Appointed freelancers will bring their own professional expertise and approach to delivering the agreed work, using Oak templates and working within agreed quality requirements, deliverables and timelines.

This is a remote, self-employed engagement. Freelancers will be responsible for providing the equipment and connectivity needed to deliver the agreed services.

Scope of work

Freelancers will be engaged to deliver agreed packages of Reception curriculum content and/or review work. Depending on the work commissioned, this may include:

• Designing and creating high-quality, adaptable Reception teaching and learning resources using Oak templates, in accordance with agreed curriculum specifications and quality requirements, e.g. adult-led input guides, adult-guided task guides, support for wider experiences across Reception, lightweight slide decks, videos, media clips and additional materials. 

• Applying strong knowledge of Reception pedagogy and how young children learn when making content and resource-design decisions, including an understanding that resources should support, rather than prescribe, teachers' professional decision-making.

• Creating resources that support clear learning intentions while enabling developmentally appropriate, active, playful and interactive learning, including adult-led and adult-guided learning, child-led activity, and learning through play and outdoor provision where appropriate.

• Making appropriate decisions about language and vocabulary, children's prior knowledge and experiences, adult interaction, inclusion and responsive assessment.

• Responding appropriately to review and feedback and making agreed revisions to content.

• Delivering agreed content and review work to the required quality and within agreed timescales.

• Using Oak's templates, systems and production tools as required to deliver the commissioned work.

• If required, reviewing Reception session content against agreed quality requirements and providing clear, constructive feedback where required.

Experience and expertise

We are interested in hearing from freelancers who can demonstrate:

• At least three years' recent experience of teaching and/or leading Reception in a school or schools following the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework.

• Strong, current knowledge and practical understanding of effective Reception pedagogy, the EYFS statutory framework, and how young children learn and develop. 

• Experience creating and delivering high-quality Reception sessions or curriculum content and the ability to translate curriculum and pedagogical expertise into clear, usable adult-facing guidance for Reception practitioners.

• Strong curriculum and pedagogical judgement, including the ability to make purposeful decisions about how intended learning is translated into well-sequenced, developmentally appropriate resources.

• Excellent written English, including spelling, punctuation and grammar.

• Confidence using digital tools and the ability to adapt to unfamiliar systems and technology.

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage agreed deliverables and deadlines independently.

• Ability to respond constructively to feedback and review and refine content where appropriate.

Equipment and technology

Freelancers will need to provide their own equipment and internet connection suitable for delivering the commissioned work. This will include:

• A laptop with at least 8GB RAM.

• A reliable internet connection with a minimum download speed of 20 Mbps and upload speed of 5 Mbps.

Ways of working

This engagement is offered on a self-employed basis. Appointed freelancers will have autonomy over how they deliver the agreed work, within the agreed curriculum specifications, quality requirements, deliverables and timelines.

Freelancers will not be subject to line management but will liaise with named Oak contacts as required to agree commissioned work, clarify requirements, share progress and support effective delivery.

Freelancers will be responsible for managing their own time and working arrangements to meet agreed deadlines. The engagement should not be interpreted as creating an employment relationship between Oak National Academy and the appointed freelancer.

We're receiving a strong response to our freelancer adverts, which may lead us to close the role early so if you're considering applying, please get your application in early to avoid missing out.